Jesse H. Nix

Age: 66.

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Address: 21667 Libby Road, Emily, MN 56447.

Occupation: Semi-retired presently working as a maintenance person.

Education: AAS Business Management Entrepreneurship, Brainerd Technical College.

Family: Wife Sharon (Sue); sons, Steven and Gene; daughters Treva, Alauna, Teisha and Shawn; 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Why are you running for this office? "I have observed that the government is getting more and more polarized. One of the primary reasons for this is lack of trust. Trust is eroded when there isn't transparency in the process of decision making. We have many concerns here in Crow Wing County: affordable housing, roads, public transportation, the environment, affordable health care, crime, living wage jobs, and many others. All of these are complex issues which are intertwined the answers to these problems are also complex and intertwined. I enjoy solving problems to make things more understandable."

Out of a field of 12 candidates, what sets you apart from the other candidates? "I can't comment on the experience of the other individuals. My experience has been wide from owning a business to being the lowest employee on the totem pole. I have spent 20 years in the military and nine years on the town board. I know you have to ask lots of questions whenever anything comes up as everyone is a salesman when they want something. I have seen the problems caused by trying to save money in one place and having it cost more in another. Governments are notorious for cost shifts they usually cost more in the long run."

What do you think is the most important issue facing Crow Wing County? "Crow Wing County's most important issue at present is that it has not adequately planned for the future. It treats every problem as it arrives. It has not put in place a comprehensive plan for the future. We know the population will grow. We know that certain things will happen as it grows more and different services and infrastructure will be required depending on the demographics of the change. The services and occupations to handle these changes need to be planed for in an orderly manner so they are not crisis to be dealt with as they happen."